Chapter 23 Part 2: Silver For A Rainy Day

Meanwhile, Wei Lan was completely unaware of all this.

She had already arrived at the entrance of Yuyaxuan, the largest jade shop in Panyang City, clutching the jade pieces in her arms.

She had been here once before.

If she wanted to sell her jade pieces for a good price, she might as well come to the best jade shop.

Wei Lan walked into the shop.

The shop assistant seemed to recognize her, “It’s you?”

“Yes, is your manager in?

I’ve brought some of my own carved jade pieces to sell,” Wei Lan stated.

Seeing that she wasn’t there to buy anything, the assistant wasn’t very enthusiastic towards her, “Wait a moment, I’ll go get him for you.”

The assistant asked another shop assistant to mind the store while he went upstairs to get the manager.

When the manager saw him come up, he asked, “What is it?

Is there an important customer?”

“No, it’s that young female Qiankun from last time who said she wanted to sell jade pieces.

She’s brought a big bundle this time, says she wants to sell,” the assistant explained.

The manager nodded, quickly rose to his feet, and said, “Let’s go.

Let’s go down together and have a look.”

“Alright.

But I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high.

She doesn’t really strike me as a carver,” the assistant said.

He always felt Wei Lan seemed out of place, especially her clothes this time, which were much better than last time.

Anyway, no matter how he looked at her, she didn’t seem like someone engaged in carving.

“You, you’re just short-sighted.

You can’t judge a book by its cover.

Who knows, maybe she really is a top-notch carver?”

The manager felt that young people these days only saw what was right in front of them and shook his head helplessly.

By the time he reached the first floor, the manager already had a smile on his face and said to Wei Lan, “Sorry to keep you waiting, miss.

What fine pieces have you brought this time?”

Wei Lan smiled back at him and carefully placed the bundle in her arms onto the tea table in the shop.

The manager instructed the assistants, “Clear away all the cups and things on the table.”

The two assistants quickly cleared the table, but neither of them took it seriously, waiting to see Wei Lan make a fool of herself.

After all, every few days, someone would come to sell their carvings.

But almost none of them ever met the manager’s standards.

Yuyaxuan was the largest jade shop in Panyang City; they had their own carvers and also collaborated with several local jade carving masters.

Wei Lan, unconcerned with what others thought, opened her bundle.

The jade ornaments, bracelets, pendants, and jade plaques inside immediately came into view.

The assistant was just about to say, ‘Isn’t it just worthless green jade?’

After all, most green jade had black spots, so even carved pieces weren’t attractive and couldn’t fetch a good price.

But when he looked closely, he saw that the green jade on the table had not a single black spot, and the shapes were unlike anything he had seen before.

Take for example the landscape with birds and flowers ornament, which was the size of a human head.

The ornament actually had layers of hills and mountains carved into it.

The assistant’s mouth unconsciously fell open.

“This, what kind of carving technique is this?” the assistant couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment.

The manager was also completely mesmerized.

He looked at the jade pieces on the table, then at Wei Lan.

It took him a while to come back to his senses, and he immediately said eagerly, “Miss, may I pick up this ornament for a closer look?”

Wei Lan nodded, “Feel free to look, just don’t damage them.”

“Yes, yes.”

Although he was the manager, he was also a jade lover himself.

To be honest, the color of green jade was actually very beautiful, but the most annoying thing was the dense little black spots on it.

However, the ornament in his hand was entirely emerald green, and the carving technique used was the most difficult openwork carving.

One must know that openwork carving tests the carver’s skill and patience the most.

A single mistake in carving would ruin the integrity of the whole piece.

Yet this landscape with birds and flowers ornament was perfectly executed, completely hollowed out.

The manager carefully held it in his hands, examining it back and forth.

The landscape was vividly lifelike, the forests and trees layered, the openwork done just right.

Most importantly, not a single black spot was visible on the surface.

The manager even rubbed his eyes, then looked at Wei Lan in shock.

“Miss, this craftsmanship… it must take decades of carving experience.

Was it carved by someone in your family?” the manager asked.

Wei Lan shook her head, “I carved all of these myself.”

The manager’s mouth fell open, “This, how is that possible?”

Wei Lan smiled at him and said, “As long as you have patience, carving something like this isn’t difficult.”

The manager’s gaze fell on Wei Lan’s hands.

Because of the long hours of jade crafting, some parts of her hands had developed calluses.

But her skin was fair and her fingers were slender, so they were still quite nice to look at.

But even so, the manager still couldn’t believe this was Wei Lan’s work, “Miss, you’re really not joking with me?”

Wei Lan nodded, “Of course not.

Can you tell me how much these jade ornaments and plaques of mine can sell for?”

“Miss, please wait a moment.

It’s a coincidence today; our owner happens to be in the back hall as well.

These carvings of yours are truly exquisite.

Would you mind if I took two pieces to show our owner?” the manager said with a smile.

Wei Lan nodded.

A big shop like Yuyaxuan certainly wouldn’t cheat her; she felt quite at ease about that.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come here to sell these jade pieces.

“Of course you can, manager, please go ahead,” Wei Lan said generously.

“Alright, please have a seat here for a moment.

Zhou Er, what are you standing there for?

Quickly serve tea to our distinguished guest.

Go get some of my new tea and brew it for the customer to drink.”

If nothing else, if all these carvings could be sold to them, it would be remarkable.

Therefore, they absolutely had to treat Wei Lan well.

“Right away, I’ll go now.”

That assistant quickly took out the manager’s finest tea for honored guests, and used freshly boiled water from a small stove to brew a pot of hot tea.

Zhou Er’s attitude towards Wei Lan also became respectful, “Miss, please have some tea.

Our manager will be right back.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Wei Lan thanked him, then poured herself a cup of hot tea and sipped it slowly.

The tea was good tea, but the way ancient people processed tea was different from modern times.

Wei Lan always felt ancient tea tasted a bit astringent, but it was still better than plain water; she didn’t like drinking plain water.

The manager, with excellent taste, carefully held Wei Lan’s landscape carving in his left hand, and in his right hand, he held the nine-tailed fox green jade pendant that Wei Lan had carved.

He had immediately taken a liking to these two items at first glance and believed their owner would also like them.

Moreover, if what this young lady just said was true, then her future prospects were truly limitless.

So young, yet with such exceptional skill—he had never seen anyone like her in his over forty years of life.

Even the two carving masters in Panyang City, Liu Bingkun and Huo Feng, couldn’t compare to her.

The manager, named Zhao Chengye, ran excitedly to the back hall.

Before he even reached the door, he called out, “Is the owner inside?

Wonderful news!”

Inside the study, a woman with a veil covering her face sat serenely behind the desk.

Hearing the commotion outside, her captivating fox-like eyes turned stern, and her voice carried a hint of displeasure.

“What is it?

Such a ruckus?”

Hearing the displeasure in the woman’s voice, Zhao Chengye quickly bowed at the door before speaking, “Owner, a truly exceptional jade carving artist has just arrived.

She brought ornaments and jade plaques to sell.

I just examined them carefully; she used openwork carving techniques throughout.

Even Liu Bingkun and Huo Feng couldn’t carve ornaments and plaques like these.”

The woman’s fox-like eyes slightly narrowed, “Is that so?

Let me see them.”

Zhao Chengye quickly stepped inside, carefully placing the items in his hands on the desk in front of the woman.

The woman immediately picked up the nine-tailed fox pendant.

The pendant was the size of a palm, entirely emerald green.

Most importantly, the fox’s body and its nine tails were carved with such a sense of depth, as if a real little fox were looking at her.

Every openwork section was uniformly sized, and the textures within the openwork were extremely clear.

It was originally a piece of not-so-valuable green jade, but the carver had removed all the black spots, leaving the entire pendant a uniform emerald green.

Its value could increase dozens or even hundreds of times.

There was finally a flicker of emotion in the woman’s eyes.

She picked up the nine-tailed fox pendant and looked at it.

The little fox’s mouth was curved, as if it were smiling at her.

The corners of the woman’s mouth also curled up slightly.

Such craftsmanship—’lifelike’ wouldn’t be an overstatement.

Even Gong Jinsheng, the most preeminent carver in the Great Zhou, might not be able to do better.

The woman stood up, not even looking at the jade ornament, and quickly said, “Where is this person?

Quickly, invite them to the back hall.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll go right away.”

Seeing the owner so eager, Zhao Chengye hurriedly said.

“Wait, I’ll go with you.

For a carver of this caliber, I should go and invite them personally.”

With that, the woman quickly walked out of the study, and Zhao Chengye hurriedly trotted after her.

In a short while, the woman reached the shop at the front.

At that moment, the only customer in the shop was a young, good-looking female Qiankun sitting at a table drinking tea.

In front of her were many jade carvings of various sizes.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then asked Zhao Chengye behind her, “She carved those?

How is that possible?

She’s so young.”

Zhao Chengye quickly cupped his hands and said, “I thought so too.

But this young lady answered very definitely, saying she carved all these items herself.”

The woman hesitated for another moment, but still walked over.

Her gaze fell on Wei Lan, and she said, “Miss, are these all your carvings?”

Wei Lan nodded, “Yes, I carved them all myself.

How much silver can I get for them here?”

The woman smiled at Wei Lan, her beautiful fox-like eyes curving slightly, “Miss need not worry.

Yuyaxuan is the largest jade shop in Panyang City.

We offer the highest prices for acquiring jade pieces.

I wonder if the miss would have time to step into the back hall with me for a conversation?”

Wei Lan thought for a moment, then nodded.

Selling these carvings wasn’t a one-time deal; building a good relationship with the owner of Yuyaxuan would certainly be beneficial.
“Okay.

What about my things?”

“Zhou Er, you two take all these jade items to my study,” the woman instructed.

“Yes, Owner.”

Leaving one person to watch the shop, the other two assistants helped carry all of Wei Lan’s jade items into the study, placing them on the round table there.

The woman looked at everyone and said, “I have something to discuss privately with this young lady.

You may all leave for now.”

With that, the woman added, “Oh, and have the maidservants waiting by the door also withdraw for now.”

“Yes, Owner,” Zhao Chengye quickly replied.

All the servants withdrew, leaving only two female Kunzes with swords at the door, presumably the woman’s guards.

Seeing Wei Lan glance outside, the woman smiled at her and said, “Miss need not worry.

I was just afraid that too many people and too many voices might hinder our discussion.

The two guards outside are both my confidants.

You can rest assured.”

Wei Lan nodded, “What do you want to discuss with me?”

The woman removed the veil covering her face.

Wei Lan looked at her and saw a face as brilliant as a peach blossom.

If Lu Zijin possessed a kind of cold, pure beauty, then this woman possessed a kind of passionate, radiant beauty.

Her features were bright and striking, the kind that was hard to look away from once you saw them, especially her fox-like eyes, which were exceptionally lively and beautiful.

But Wei Lan only glanced once.

After all, she herself was quite good-looking, and Lu Zijin was also beautiful.

She didn’t stare at the woman for long, and instead asked, “Why did you take off your veil?”

The woman across from her smiled and said, “Since we’re going to discuss business, I should of course be open and honest.

I am the owner of all the Yuyaxuan shops in the Great Zhou.

My name is Xiao Nanyan.

May I ask the miss’s name?”

“My name is Wei Lan,” Wei Lan replied calmly.

Xiao Nanyan looked at Wei Lan, noticing that her tone remained indifferent even after seeing her face.

She didn’t display the predatory gaze those male Qiankuns usually did.

Xiao Nanyan’s impression of Wei Lan improved even more.

She disliked it when Qiankuns looked at her with appraising eyes.

Otherwise, no matter how good the other person’s carving skills were, she wouldn’t consider collaborating.

“I want all the jade pieces you’ve brought.

Also, in the future, if you have any jade pieces you need to sell, could you consider Yuyaxuan first?

I guarantee I’ll give you the fairest price, absolutely no price gouging.

Moreover, we could have a long-term partnership.”

Seeing that Wei Lan didn’t respond, Xiao Nanyan continued, “Miss Wei, rest assured.

Every jade piece you carve, we can credit to your name.

As someone who carves jade, you should also know that if you can build a reputation and become a renowned jade carving master in the Great Zhou, the value of your jade pieces could increase dozens or even hundreds of times.

We can help you with that.”

Wei Lan smiled but said nothing.

Wasn’t this just wanting exclusive rights to her work?

She didn’t expect Xiao Nanyan to be quite shrewd.